Description

Owl’s are stoic looking birds, something about their stare and stature makes them look like their wisdom is beyond their years. Being a person that has always loved the outdoors, I have come across owls in the forest that have left memorable impressions on me. They always have been in places where I have least expected it. My most memorable owl encounter was when I was in the Chilcotin of B.C in the fall of 2014. It was a very foggy morning and I was sitting still at the edge of a beautiful meadow surrounded by forest. The ground had been covered by frost and the fog was heavy at times. I was noticing that the fog was sort of drifting in and out so it would thin out in sections at times. I remember the mood was very quiet and peaceful, I was looking intently in this one direction where the fog began to disperse. Two fairly large shadows started to appear, exactly the same shape, was very weird. So I stared intensely at the shadows, curious because they did not move for probably 20 minutes. The fog started to lift until it became clear to my eyes that these were two of the biggest owls I had ever seen! Great Grey owls sitting perched on top of two very old weathered fence posts in the middle of this meadow. They had huge square heads and bodies and the most beautiful intense faces. Then they flew off one after the other. I was left with an amazing feeling of gratefulness. This painting is not of a Great Grey owl, but it is certainly inspired by that experience. The barn owl in this painting was a commission choice for a friend. “Hidden Sunrise” was my very first commissioned painting and will always hold a special place.